Do Catholics worship the host?

[Derek]

Yes, No?

If not, why do you regard it as being the literal Body and Blood of Jesus (and not a memorial or even the presence of Jesus)?

[Ryan]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession."

1379 The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass. As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

1374 The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend." In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained." "This presence is called 'real' - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present."

1384 The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."

1403 At the Last Supper the Lord himself directed his disciples' attention toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God: "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist she remembers this promise and turns her gaze "to him who is to come." In her prayer she calls for his coming: "Marana tha!" "Come, Lord Jesus!" "May your grace come and this world pass away!"

1404 The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in his Eucharist and that he is there in our midst. However, his presence is veiled. Therefore we celebrate the Eucharist "awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ," asking "to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and praise you for ever through Christ our Lord."

[xulon]

Growing up, I was taught one should never chew the host, as that would be chewing on Christ. That was pre-Vatican II and I hear some things have lightened up. But should here be a fire in a Catholic Church, Firefighters are to risk themselves to rescue any consecrated hosts.

[Otsukafan]

OK, I think ther are 2 seperate issues.

1. We should probably define worship. Bowing or crossing isn't necessarily worship. I bowed to my Chinese exchange students. I put my hand over my heart when the national anthem is played. Acts in and among themselves do not constitute worship.

2. If, and I'm saying "if", he host is truly the body and blood of Christ, what should then be the reaction?

[xulon]

From where I sit, the worship vs veneration dichotomy strikes me as playing with words as in the actual situation, as people participate in either, there is no practical distinction between the two.

[Ryan]

Venerate is to honor. Worship is reserved for God. It is licit to venerate God or Mary or Saints or the Gospel, even your parents. But it is illicit to worship any but God. To worship any other is to commit idolatry.

xulon said:

From where I sit, the worship vs veneration dichotomy strikes me as playing with words as in the actual situation, as people participate in either, there is no practical distinction between the two.

[Otsukafan]

There are many varying degrees of veneration. I could start with putting your hand over your heart when you hear the national anthem.

My father often told the story of a Christian mother who's teenage son was hanging posters of scantly clad women on his walls. The father was not Christian and saw no harm so he allowed it. The mother then hung a picture of Christ in the middle of the room. The next day the posters were gone.

Why did the image of Christ have and effect? Why do people clutch bibles and crosses in times of crisis?

xulon said:

From where I sit, the worship vs veneration dichotomy strikes me as playing with words as in the actual situation, as people participate in either, there is no practical distinction between the two.

[David Zierenberg]

The error is not in the worship, but in the belief in transsubstantiation. They believe Christ is in the elements. If you believed Christ was physically present, I bet you'd worship too.

They get their belief (as I understand it) from statements such as "This is my body..." They see it as literal.

[Ryan]

@Derek, did the Catechism quotes help answer your question? If there's more to the question I'd be happy to help, but it's a pretty straight forward answer.

[xulon]

It seems this thread was started because on another thread, somebody, who I believe holds to transubstantiation, laughed at the suggestion that Catholics worship the host. From the Catechism quotes, it seems the answer is: yes they do.

[Rey Reynoso]

Wherefore, there is no room left for doubt, that all the faithful of Christ may, according to the custom ever received in the Catholic Church, render in veneration the worship of latria, which is due to the true God, to this most holy sacrament. For not therefore is it the less to be adored on this account, that it was instituted by Christ, the Lord, in order to be received: for we believe that same God to be present therein, of whom the eternal Father, when introducing him into the world, says; And let all the angels of God adore him; whom the Magi falling down, adored; who, in fine, as the Scripture testifies, was adored by the apostles in Galilee.

Council of Trent, Session 13, Chapter V

[Joshua Allen]

Is the Church really the body of Christ? Or just a memorial or remembrance?

[xulon]

And, should we worship it?